Amputating-saw



(No Model.)

0. H. TRUAX. AMPUTATING SAW.

No. 437,876 Patented 001;. 7, 1890,.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

CHARLES I-II TRUAX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AM PUTATlNG-SAW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,876, dated October 7, 1890.

Application filed May 23,1890. Serial No. 352,871. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES II. TRUAX, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ohicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amputating-Saws, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a saw constructed as fully set forth hereinafter and especially adapted for surgeons use in aseptic surgery, the main purpose of the construction being to permit every portion of the frame, blade, and attachneits to be thoroughly cleansed and sterilize In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved saw, the blade and connections being detached. Fig. 2 illustrates the parts in the positions occupied in applying the blade to the frame. Fig. 3 illustrates the positions of the parts when the blade is applied to the frame. Fig. at is a section on the lined 4, Fig. 3.

The frame of the saw is formed in one piece, preferably of cast inetahwith the front and back bars 1 2, connecting-bar 3, and handle 4. l-Ieretofore in instruments of this class the front and back bars have been slot-ted for the attachment of the saw-blade 5, the slots or kerfs being only wide enough to admit the blade, which is then secured by a screw or otherwise. This construction has proved almost impracticable under the present requirements of aseptic surgery, inasmuch as the narrow kerfs and screw-threads prevent the application of the cleansing brushes or im-' plements and the abrasion necessary to effectually cleanse or sterilize the surfaces. To obviate these objections and further facilitate the application and removal of the blade,I form the latter with thickened end portions 7 8, in any suitable manner, with slots 9 10 in the front and back bars of sufficient width to receive these thickened portions and to receive the cleansing implements, so that the surfaces may be thoroughly cleansed, while the thickened ends of the blade serve to support pins 12 13, by means of which the blade may be firmly secured to the frame. Thus the pins 12, projecting from the rear end of the blade, fit notches 18 in the rear bar 2,

while the pins 13 at the front end are adapted to a notch in a lever A, provided with side pins 20, fitting notches 21 in the front bar 1, which is widened and socketed to receive the heads 22 of the lever, in which is a slot 23 wide enough to receive the front thickened end S.

The pins 13 20 and notches 19 21 are so arranged that when the leverAis applied with its pins 20 in the notches 21 and turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 the pins 13 may be introduced into the notch 19, and by then turning the lever upward to the position shown in Fig. 3 the blade is carried upward until the pins 13 are above the pins 20. The pins 12 and 13 are so arranged that the frame may be slightly strained and contracted by bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, so that there is then a constant draft tending to pull the pins 13 and the lever A back in the direction of the arrow, thereby maintaining the parts in place and straining the saw-blade so that it will remain straight and avoid all tendency to buckle in use.

)Vhen the blade must be removed, the lever A is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the blade may be readily detached from its supports and the lever from the frame, so that ready access is afiorded to all the surfaces of all the parts, which may be thoroughly cleansed and sterilized.

Vhile I have described the lever and pins as a means of securing a blade with its thickened ends to the frame having sockets or openings adapted to said ends,I do not limit myself to these securing devices, as other suitable and well-known appliances may be used for securing the blade after the ends are secured and inserted in the sockets.

\Vithout therefore limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim-- 1. In a surgical saw, a blade having thickened ends, in combination with a frame having sockets constructed to receive said thickened ends, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a saw-blade having thickened ends, of aframe having sockets to receive said ends, a lever having bearings upon the frame, and shoulders for engaging the pins upon the end of the sawblade, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the saw-frame slit or socketed at each end, with notches 18 and 21 on opposite sides of the sockets, a lever provided with side pins adapted to the sockets 21 and slotted longitudinally and provided with a notch 19, and a blade provided with side pins 12 13, all arranged to operate subto stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. CHARLES H. TRUAX. \Vitnesses:

M. L. BROWN, E. E. PALMER. 

